Fixed Magazine Is #1 Out

The First Issue of the Fixed magazine is out but where can I get one?

The 24" Fixed Gear BMX of the Year

As if that 'Bianci' was not enough, here's something almost as good. 

The bike in the picture above is a 24" fixed gear BMX, and it's for sale here right now. Be fast! Sure, there's been FG BMX bikes before but not quite like the one above.

Specs

Frame: Redline 24" BMX light alloy
Handlebars and Stem: Adamant annodized blue trials (chopped a bit) and Truvativ Hussefelt
Fork and Headset: Redline 24" and FSA Pig
Front wheel: Grimeca alloy one-piece :D
Rear wheel: Halo Tornado on System X re-spaced track hub
Crankset and Bottom bracket: One-piece with Sugino spider
Saddle and Seat Post: Blue Rolls atop a Selcof long-un
Pedals and Chain: White Gusset Incas and halflink
Cog/Gearing et cetera: Dura Ace sprocket and lockring, Surly stainless steel chainring - 36/15T
Notes: Halo Twin-Rails in pink and Dennis the Menace grips complete the package :)

"This bike is pure nonsense and a trackstander's delight. Not tried it yet, but i suspect it'd be perfect for polo."

More MASH SF News: Emi's Leader Bike Is Back.

As I wrote earlier, MASH SF's Emi's tarkced out Leader bike was apparently stolen couple of weeks back in SOMA, SF. Well, now some extra secret interwebz sources have revealed that he has actually gotten the bike back somehow since that. Which is very nice.

At the same time the other stolen bikes I've blogged about here, and here, have not found their way back to their rightful owners, unfortunately. Someone even reported somewhere on http://www.londonfgss.com/ that Emma's black Vivalo was actually seen somewhere near Brick Lane ridden by some chavvy youths. Fuck that, some serious D-lock justice is really needed if things go like that. 

Anyhow, to celebrate Emi's victory over the lowlifescumbagjunkiebikethieves, I posted above picture of his other (previous?) bike, a super tarcked-out Bianchi Pista Concept, which looks at least to me waaaay nicer than the Leader. 

Bike Thieves in London Town: Emma's Lovely Vivalo Stolen...

I've been checking out the London Fixed Gear and Single Speed forum a lot lately and it seems like bike theft is a big issue in London, unfortunately. There's been so much of that nastiness going on lately that some people put up a blog reporting stolen bikes, here. 

What's even more scary is the fact that it appears that the crooks stealing bikes in London are often highly professional and efficient with proper tools and knowledge, not just some sad sick junkies trying their luck. 

If you want to read more about how to protect your bike AND to see how easily the real pros will nick your ride, look here. That stuff is genuinely disturbing. 

Here's the latest sad example from London: 

"Stolen from outside Tesco on Bethnal Green Rd, London, was locked up and only left for 2 mins. Bike description: 50cm Vivalo Gloss Black with rainbow sparkles, Dura-Ace sealed NJS headset, Nitto Stem, Riser's with Grey Champ grips, Grey seatpost with EGKS written on the side in black marker pen, Kashimax black saddle, Dura-Ace cranks (90's), MKS clips(odd one is a medium one is a large), Single black toe straps, Shimano Bottom Bracket, Front wheel- Dura Ace hub radial laced with black spokes on a white Velocity Deep V, Rear wheel- Dura-Ace hub Laced 3x with silver spokes on a Black Velocity Deep V. Note: one of the hubs has been custom coloured, instead of a navy blue background with white shimano dura-ace text... it is a white background with black text, (inversed) the owner is very sad, this is a one of a kind bike. She will be so happy if she can get it back. Thanks in advance.

If you have any information on this bike email:
stolenbikelondon@gmail.com"

Let's hope she gets her lovely ride back ASAP. 

'No Brakes, No Gears' - Fixed Gear Article on The Observer: Mo' Media, Mo' Problems?

Today's The Observer has an article on Fixed Gear bike culture/trend, written by 'Style Correspondent' Alice Fisher. Not everyone on http://www.londonfgss.com were very happy about it... 

Moving Target shines some more critical light on the article, if you click this.

Anyway the article, here you go:


"Riding a bicycle without brakes sounds like a rash move, but a new wave of cyclists is eschewing traditional bikes for a stripped-down machine known as a fixed-gear.
It is one of the most basic machines you can build with two wheels. A fixed-gear bike – or fixie – has no derailleur as it has only one gear, so as long as the wheels turn, so do the pedals. Its rider can’t freewheel and the only way to brake is to stand on the pedals.


The fixed-gear’s renaissance supposedly stems from West Indian immigrants in New York working as cycle couriers in the Eighties. They had used them at home because they were cheap and easy to maintain, and continued using them in the US. Their popularity spread throughout the courier community, crossing to the UK and other countries.


As the fixie craze has taken off so has the number of new riders who enter ‘alleycats’ – unofficial road races consisting of a series of checkpoints on a set route. Alleycats originated in America and were organised for and by cycle couriers but now inexperienced riders participate. Last Sunday in Chicago, Matthew Manger-Lynch, 29, was killed in a collision with a four-wheel drive vehicle after running a red light. He was competing in an alleycat known as Tour Da Chicago. A similar race – the New York Monstertrack, normally the biggest annual alleycat in the US – was scheduled to take place on 8 March, but was cancelled after the Chicago death. 

These races now take place in British cities and threaten to colour public opinion of the growing urban cyclist subculture. Around 30 cyclists took part in one organised by art students in central London last Thursday which finished with a party at a bar in Hoxton.
Roxy Erickson, 28, who is part of the women-only Trixie Chix collective, said: ‘Media reports don’t show the community spirit or the eco-friendly side of cycling. A working messenger [courier] who got hit by a double-decker bus wouldn’t get as much news space.’
The strength of the fixed-gear community is demonstrated on the messageboards that are full of updates on the welfare of cyclists injured in accidents, invites to parties and gallery openings as well as alleycats, which are often held to support injured cyclists or promote causes such as the war on drugs.


Andy Ellis, 28, who is part of the London Fixed Gear collective and builds fixies, explained why the bikes were so popular. ‘You can’t get more linked to a bike than on fixed-gear. There are aspects which compare to skateboarding. You enjoy travelling through the city in the same way, but on a fixed-gear, it’s faster and you have more control.’
The fixie’s simplicity and grace appeals to the fashion conscious, many of whom take customisation to extravagant levels, creating bikes with imported track-bike frames and hand-built wheels that cost thousands.
Ellis said: ‘At first it was anything to get them on the road, but I’ve built three bikes for one guy in the last year and every time he comes back he wants something more exclusive.’


The international fixed scene is now getting mainstream attention, including official sponsorship from bike companies. A cyclist known as Superted – part of the Fixed Gear London collective – is sponsored by cycle brand Charge Bikes. There’s also the Bike Film Festival, now in its fourth year, which showcases films documenting cyclists’ tricks and agility.
The most successful fixed-gear film is Mash SF, which features the Mash SF collective riding in San Francisco. ‘It’s the first big film about fixed-gear trick riding,’ said Laura Fraser, the London producer of the festival and a fixed-gear rider. ‘It’s gone around the world.’


Tom Bogdanowicz, of the London Cycling Campaign, the largest urban cycling organisation in the world, says: ‘Fixed is enjoyable and good for fitness, but you have to acquire riding skills. Once mastered, the bikes are good for urban cycling as they make you very aware of the road and you can maintain speed at a level that’s suitable for traffic. They make you think ahead.’ He suggested that anyone wishing to try fixed in London should go to Herne Hill Stadium where low-cost training sessions were on offer."

ARTE Tracks: Reportage sur les pignons fixes Londoniens

'Reportage sur les pignons fixes Londoniens', or a very nice mini documentary on the Fixed Gear scene and riders in London.

ARTE is a Frech TV channel and the commentary is in French, so if your language skills are not up to scratch right now, the 7-minutes long film is still very nice with super clean editing and lots cool riding on London streets.